Schumacher Wins Spain Race

STEPHEN WADE

Apr. 29, 2001

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BARCELONA, Spain (AP) _ Michael Schumacher got lucky and won the Spanish Grand Prix when the McLaren of leader Mika Hakkinen broke down on the final lap Sunday.

Hakkinen was leading by more than 40 seconds over the Ferrari of Schumacher, and seemed headed to his fourth straight victory in the race when his car quit midway through the 65th lap at the 2.938-mile Circuit de Catalunya. Hakkinen suggested he had a clutch problem, but wasn't certain.

The victory was the third this year for Schumacher, the three-time and defending Formula One champion who broke a tie with Hakkinen's teammate, David Coulthard, to take the points lead. Schumacher now has 36 points to 28 for Coulthard, who wound up fifth in the race.

Juan Pablo Montoya was second in his Williams, the first points finish in the five-race F1 career of the former CART champion.

BAR's Jacques Villeneuve was third, followed by Jordan's Jarno Trulli. Nick Heidfeld was sixth in a Sauber.

Coulthard recovered to pick up points after stalling on the formation lap. He was forced to start from the back of the grid after qualifying third.

The race was the first since 1993 in which electronic traction control was used. It also was the introduction of launch control and fully automatic seven-speed gearboxes.